How Adults Play Make-Believe

It was a simple playground ceremony officiated by a first-grade classmate and attended by close friends at recess. My bride Stacey and I exchanged tin foil rings. We kissed.

Everyone chanted about first comes love, then marriage, so next would be a baby carriage. But starting a family meant a honeymoon at Barbie’s Dream House after school, and playing with Stacey’s dolls didn’t interest me. So our marriage was soon annulled through a series of cooties shots.

I share this story because it is one of my most vivid memories of playing childhood make-believe.

As adults, make-believe takes on new form and meaning.

We play make-believe in our minds with our “what ifs.” What if I quit my job and start my own business? What if I go back to school and earn a degree? What if I move to a new city?

Sometimes, the vision in our heads inspires us enough to push us forward, and turn the game into reality.

Success demands yet a different kind of make-believe. It combines your vision, with what is in your heart, and the action you take.

Here’s how you play it:

Make. Believe.

Make a choice. Believe it is the right one. Be courageous.

Make a bet on your future. Believe in your success. Be confident.

Make a difference in someone’s life. Believe in their success. Be loving.